biography

Jeff Chandler Born Ira Grossel in Brooklyn on December 15, 1918, rugged actor Jeff Chandler enjoyed a successful career on stage and in radio before acting in his first film. Among other radio shows, Chandler was a fixture on the 1940s series Our Miss Brooks (with Eve Arden). In 1946, Chandler married actress Marjorie Hoshelle, and the couple had two daughters, both born in the late 1940s. By the time his daughters Jamie and Dana were born, Chandler's film career was gaining momentum. His first credited film appearances came in a pair of low-budget 20th Century Fox noir thrillers: The Invisible Wall (1947; with Don Castle and Virginia Christine) and Roses Are Red (1947; with Don Castle and Peggy Knudsen). Chandler's fortunes greatly improved when he signed with Universal-International in 1949; his first films for the studio were the big-budget action/drama film Sword in the Desert (1949; with Dana Andrews and Marta Toren) and the noir thriller Abandoned (1949; with Dennis O'Keefe, Gale Storm, and Raymond Burr). Universal chose the noir Deported (1950; with Marta Toren) to be Chandler's first starring role in a film.

Jeff Chandler The studio found Chandler capable and popular enough to headline a number of films, such as the adventure Smuggler's Island (1951; with Evelyn Keyes), the western The Battle at Apache Pass (1952; with Susan Cabot), and the adventure Yankee Pasha (1954; with Rhonda Fleming, Mamie Van Doren, and Rex Reason). While the strapping 6'5" actor excelled in noir, actioners, and westerns, he proved to be a sturdy dramatic actor and also had a flair for comedy, which can be seen in Universal's Toy Tiger (1956; with Lariane Day). Multi-talented, Chandler was also a singer, musician, and songwriter who released a number of singles and albums in the 1950s. His personal life was not as successful, as his married proved to be a rocky one with frequent separations and divorce filings. After thirteen years of marriage, Chandler and his wife divorced in 1959.



the films of jeff chandler

Flame of Araby (1951)

Jeff ChandlerJeff ChandlerJeff ChandlerJeff Chandler and Maureen O'HaraJeff Chandler and Maureen O'Hara

From Universal-International's adventure flick Flame of Araby with Maureen O'Hara

War Arrow (1953)

Jeff ChandlerJeff ChandlerJeff Chandler

From the 20th Century Fox western War Arrow

Sign of the Pagan (1954)

Jeff Morrow and Jeff Chandler

From the Universal-International drama Sign of the Pagan with Jeff Morrow

Foxfire (1955)

Jeff Chandler and Jane Russell

With Jane Russell in Universal-International's drama Foxfire

Away All Boats (1956)

Jeff Chandler, Keith Andes, and George NaderKeith Andes, Richard Boone, Jeff Chandler, Charles McGraw, George Nader, and Lex Barker

From Universal-International's war drama Away All Boats. LEFT: With Keith Andes and George Nader. RIGHT: With Keith Andes, Richard Boone, Charles McGraw, George Nader, and Lex Barker

Toy Tiger (1956)

Jeff Chandler, Tim Hovey, and Laraine Day

From the Universal-International comedy Toy Tiger with Tim Hovey and Laraine Day

The Lady Takes a Flyer (1958)

Jeff Chandler and Lana Turner

With Lana Turner in the Universal-International drama The Lady Takes a Flyer

Raw Wind in Eden (1958)

Jeff Chandler and Rossana PodestaJeff Chandler and Carlos ThompsonJeff Chandler and Rossana PodestaJeff Chandler and Rossana PodestaJeff Chandler and Esther WilliamsJeff Chandler and Esther Williams

From the Universal-International drama Raw Wind in Eden, shot in Italy. LEFT: With Rossana Podesta. CENTER A: Chandler is threatened by Carlos Thompson. CENTER B: With Rossana Podesta. CENTER C: Chandler assists Esther Williams. RIGHT: Again with Esther Williams. Chandler and Williams had a romance that began with the production of this film

Thunder in the Sun (1959)

Jacques Bergerac, Jeff Chandler, and Susan HaywardSusan Hayward, Jeff Chandler, and Jacques Bergerac

With Jacques Bergerac and Susan Hayward in the western Thunder in the Sun, released by Paramount

Merrill's Marauders (1962)

Jeff Chandler, Peter Brown, Ty Hardin, Andrew Duggan, and Will Hutchins

From the Warner Bros. war film Merrill's Marauders with Peter Brown, Ty Hardin, Andrew Duggan, and Will Hutchins. This was Chandler's final film

later years

Much as larger studios such as MGM had done, Universal dropped Chandler and nearly all of its other contract players in the late 1950s. Whereas many actors watched their careers wither with the death of the studio system, Chandler's talent and strong audience appeal kept him in front of the cameras. In addition to acting, he also worked behind the scenes as producer for two of his films: Drango (1957; with Joanne Dru and Julie London) and The Plunderers (1960; with John Saxon). After shooting wrapped on Merrill's Marauders (1962; with Ty Hardin and Peter Brown), Jeff Chandler had spinal surgery in May 1961 to alleviate back pain. Complications during the operation resulted in blood poisoning, and he passed away on June 17, 1961, at the age of 42. He was survived by his two daughters, who received more than $230,000 in 1962 from a malpractice suit against the doctors who treated their father.

filmography

FILM
Merrill's Marauders (1962) with Ty Hardin and Peter Brown
Return to Peyton Place (1961) with Carol Lynley, Mary Astor, Luciana Paluzzi, and Brett Halsey
A Story of David (1960) with Barbara Shelley and Donald Pleasence
The Plunderers (1960) with John Saxon and Dolores Hart
Thunder in the Sun (1959) with Susan Hayward and Jacques Bergerac
The Jayhawkers! (1959) with Fess Parker
Ten Seconds to Hell (1959) with Jack Palance
A Stranger in My Arms (1959) with June Allyson, Mary Astor, and Sandra Dee
Raw Wind in Eden (1958) with Esther Williams, Rossana Podesta, Carlos Thompson, and Rik Battaglia
The Lady Takes a Flyer (1958) with Lana Turner, Chuck Connors, and Richard Denning
Man in the Shadow (1957) with Orson Welles and Colleen Miller
Drango (1957) with Julie London, Joanne Dru, and John Lupton
Jeanne Eagels (1957) with Kim Novak
The Tattered Dress (1957) with Jeanne Crain, Gail Russell, and Ziva Rodann
Pillars of the Sky (1956) with Dorothy Malone, Keith Andes, and Martin Milner
Toy Tiger (1956) with Laraine Day and Tim Hovey
Away All Boats (1956) with George Nader, Julie Adams, Lex Barker, Keith Andes, and Jock Mahoney
The Spoilers (1955) with Rory Calhoun, Anne Baxter, Ray Danton, and Barbara Britton
Female on the Beach (1955) with Joan Crawford and Jan Sterling
Foxfire (1955) with Jane Russell, Mara Corday, and Dan Duryea
Sign of the Pagan (1955) with Jack Palance, Allison Hayes, and Jeff Morrow
Taza, Son of Cochise (1954) with Rock Hudson, Barbara Rush, Rex Reason, and Lance Fuller
Yankee Pasha (1954) with Rhonda Fleming, Mamie Van Doren, and Rex Reason
War Arrow (1953) with Maureen O'Hara and Suzan Ball
East of Sumatra (1953) with Marilyn Maxwell, Anthony Quinn, Peter Graves, and Suzan Ball
The Great Sioux Uprising (1953) with Faith Domergue Lyle Bettger, and Glenn Strange
The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) with Susan Cabot, Hugh O'Brian, and Richard Egan
Yankee Buccaneer (1952) with Scott Brady, Suzan Ball, and David Janssen
Because of You (1952) with Loretta Young and Frances Dee
Red Ball Express (1952) with Hugh O'Brian and Charles Drake
Smuggler's Island (1951) with Evelyn Keyes
Flame of Araby (1951) with Maureen O'Hara, Susan Cabot, Dewey Martin, and Richard Egan
Bird of Paradise (1951) with Debra Paget and Louis Jourdan
Iron Man (1951) with Evelyn Keyes, Joyce Holden, Rock Hudson, and James Arness
Deported (1950) with Marta Toren
Two Flags West (1950) with Joseph Cotten, Linda Darnell, and Cornel Wilde
Broken Arrow (1950) with James Stewart and Debra Paget
Sword in the Desert (1949) with Dana Andrews
Abandoned (1949) with Dennis O'Keefe, Gale Storm, and Raymond Burr
The Invisible Wall (1947) with Virginia Christine
Roses Are Red (1947) with Peggy Knudsen and Charles McGraw

jeff chandler trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for Jeff Chandler's 1950 war drama Two Flags West

jeff chandler television appearances

Watch Jeff Chandler in a 1957 episode of The Perry Como Show

jeff chandler film now showing

Watch Jeff Chandler's 1951 noir thriller Iron Man
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This page premiered April 1, 2002.
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